LYALL AND HUME 37 



pest. When the herd was dispersed on 7th Octo- 

 ber 1874, immediately after the sale of the Earl 

 of Southesk's Herefords, there were five families in 

 it descended from Ury, Shethin, Mr Barber's herd, 

 Yorks, and Mr Atkinson's Northumberland. The most 

 fashionable family was the Bates-descended Duchess 

 Nancy, and the most numerous the Shethin Mysie. 

 The cattle were in somewhat thin condition, and the 

 average for 36 animals was slightly over 30. Mr 

 Lyall, a man of substantial mental endowments, was 

 highly esteemed as a neighbour. 



Mr David Hume, Barrelwell, was a force in Forfar- 

 shire agricultural, stock-breeding business, and public 

 life for many years, and in every practical sphere he 

 won distinction. His swank figure, alert mind, and 

 polished yet frank speech commanded attention, and 

 at meetings where questions affecting land, stock, and 

 exhibiting were concerned few could match him in 

 suggesting a straight and sensible course out of a 

 tangle. He founded his Shorthorn herd in 1880 with 

 the best materials locally available, and built up a 

 generally good show of females by the use of first- 

 class Cruickshank bulls- His principal sires were 

 Masterpiece (57,730), a close relative of the champion 

 Mario, Eed Knight (50,286), Violet Chief (66,474), 

 Viking (84,988), Ballachraggan Baron (85,208), Prince 

 (89,587), Diamond Emerald (94,874), and Diamond 

 Silver Star. During the last few years of his life 

 Mr Hume used with much effect front-rank bulls 

 owned by Mr Donald Maclennan. From time to time 

 he exported some of his best heifers, and that was 



